Fountain brush with orifice guided brush retractor and closure cap



Mam}! 5 F. R. WITTNEBERT 7 2,875,462

FOUNTAIN BRUSH WITH ORIFIC E GUIDED BRUSH URE CAP 1954 Filed Dec. 14.

REITRACTOR AND CLOS Unitedswes a o" FOUNTAIN BRUSH WITH ORIFICE GUIDEDBRUSH RETRACTOR AND CLOSURE CAP 3 Application December 14, 1954, SerialNo. 475,150 r 5 Claims. c1. 15-139 This invention relates to a fountainapplicator having a propelled applicator unit capable of beingrepeatedly sheathed or retracted without damage by a closure capcarriedpin which is automatically guided into position by the dispensingorifice wall of the applicator. More specifically, this invention dealswith a fountain brush having a spring-propelled brush and valve unit anda dispensing nozzle closure cap carrying a pin to retract the brush andopen the valve wherein the pin is guided into position by the orificewall of the nozzle.

6 This application is a continuation-in-part of my application SerialNo. 366,798, filed July 8, 1953, entitled; Fountain Brush With ClosureCap Controlled Valve, now Patent No. 2,806,239.

r In my parent application there is disclosed a fountain brush with aspring-propelled fountain brush and valve unit mounted in a nozzle whichprovides an elongated side guide wall for an elongated side wall orskirt of a closurecap. The closure cap has an end wall for sealing thenozzle orifice and this end wall carries a pin which projects alongthe'longitudinal axis of the cap interior to penetrate the brush andretract it into the nozzle in advance of the end wall of the cap. Theside wall or skirt of the cap extends materially beyond the pin toprovide a guide coacting with the elongated wall of the nozzle foraligning the pin with the longitudinal axis of the brush before the pinengages the brush. manner, the pin penetrates the brush along itslongitudinal axis and engages the base of the brush or valve to sheathor retract the brush into the nozzle and to open the valve. Then, whenthe cap is rotated into threaded engagement withthe nozzle, the pin willnot twist or mat the brush bristles and the brush will be sealed in thenozzle in full communication with the contents of the applicatorreservoir.

The present invention now provides a closure cap pincontrolled brushunit which does not require the elongated nozzle guide wall or theelongated cap skirt.

V In accordance with this invention, the nozzle orifice is provided witha wide beveled entrance mouth capable of directing the cap pin into thenozzle for engaging a 2,875,462 raenedm 3,1959

mounted in the cap and the brush and valve unit can have a loose fit inthe nozzle.

It is then an object of this invention to shorten the nozzle length andthe cap side wall length of the fountain brush and cap assembly of theaforesaid parent application Serial No. 366,798, filed July 8, 1953 nowPatent No. 2,806,239. r

Another object of this invention is to provide a pincontrolledspring-loaded applicator brush with a nozzle orifice that will guide thepin into operative position to protect the brush against damage by theclosure cap.

Another object of this invention is to provide an orifice wall guidedpin and short cap assembly for fountain brushes to retract the brushinto the orifice and seal the tilted or cocked in the nozzle toaccommodate a mis- In this i taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 2.

portion of the brush unit regardless of the relative alignment ormisalignment of the nozzle and the cap. The

event that the brush unit is cocked or tilted-by the pin asit isretracted into the nozzle, the cocked retracted unit, if driven by aneccentric pin during rotation of the cap, will merely wobble as the capis rotated into threaded engagement with the nozzle and this wobblingaction will not inpanyway damagethe brushbristles .or pin.

aligned closure cap carried brush unit retracting pin.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in this art from the following detailed description of theannexed sheet of drawings which, by way of preferred examples only,illustrate several embodiments of the invention; 1 On the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the applicator and closure capassembly of this invention in closed position. r Figure 2 is alongitudinal cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation and withparts broken away, taken along the line II-II of Figure 1 andillustrating theas sembly on a slightly enlarged scale. 1 Q Figure 3 isa view similar to FigureZ but illustrating the opened condition of thebrush andshowing the man ner in which the cappinis guided by theorificewall into position for retractin'gfthe brush and valve unit even whenthe cap is misaligned relative to thenozzle. Figure 4 is a view similarto Figure} but illustrating the manner in which apin projecting beyondthelcap is guided by the orifice .wallinto position by the orifice wallevenwhenthe cap is carelessly applied at an'angle to the nozzle.

Figure 5 is a view similar tOF1 gll1'eLZ but illustrating the manner inwhich the brush unit can tilt orcock when retracted by a cap pin that isinitially misaligned as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 6 is atransverse cross-sectional view of thecap Figure 7 is a view similar toFigure3 but illustrating a closure cap having, a pin eccentricallymounted in the cap. 1" i .L

Figure 8, is a transverse cross-sectional viewtaken along the lineVIII-VIII of Figure 7. As shownon the drawings: p The applicator orfountain brush 10 of Figuresl to 5 and 7, comprises an elongated,tubular barrel 11, a noz zle 12 projecting from the barrel, a brush andvalve unit 13 mounted in the nozzle, a plastic guide washer 14 pressedin the inner end of the nozzle to hold, the unit 13 in the nozzle, aspring 15 for propelling the unit 13, and an agitator'ring 16 in thebarrel 11 to stir the contents of'the barrel. In'Figures 1 to 3 and 5,the nozzle 12 is closed by a cap '17 with a seal plug 18 pressed in theend wall thereof and carrying a brush unit retracting pin 19 along thelongitudinal axis of the cap to terminate flush with the end of the cap."In Figure 4, the cap 17' is equipped with a longer pin 19' thatprojects beyond themouth of the cap. InFigureJ; the cap 17"carrie5 a pin19f eccentrically displaced from the longitudinal axis of the cap. Aswill be more fully hereinafter explained, each form of cap serves toseal the orifice of the nozzle 12 and toretract the brush unit 13 intothe nozzle without damaging the brush.

The barrel 11 has a closed end 11a, an elongated side wall 11b and anopen end 11c. The barrel is preferably composed of metal such asaluminum or zinc, synthetic plastic material, glass, rubber, or thelike. The barrel is cylindrical in shape and has a considerable lengthto simulate a fountain pen. However, the shape of the barrel can vary asdesired and can include a bottle type of reservoir unit.

The nozzle 12 is preferably composed of molded relatively hard plasticmaterial such as Bakelite, hard rubber, or the like. It has acylindrical configuration with a reduced diameter inner end portion 12apress fitted into the mouth 11c of the barrel. The end of the barrel isbottomed on a shoulder 12b provided on the nozzle. The outer end of thenozzle also has a reduced diameter dispensing end 12c embraced by theclosure cap. This portion 12a is relatively short and has threads at itsinner end and a converging rounded nose 12c at its outer end with a widebeveled orifice defining wall 12 at the convergent end thereof.

A cylindrical bore 12g is formed through the nozzle 12 and has acountersunk inner end portion 12h, re ceiving the guide washer 14 inpress fit relation therewith, together with a converging valve seatforming portion 121' at the opposite end thereof. The wall 12i convergesto the orifice opening 12j defined by the beveled mouth or wall 12providing a restricted throat and an outlet of venturi configuration.

The brush unit 13 has a cylindrical rod-like stem 13a composed ofplastic, hard rubber, or the like rigid material freely guided in theaperture of the washer 14. An enlarged head portion 13b on the end ofthe stem has spaced radially projecting lugs or guide ears 13c aroundthe upper ends thereof to guide the head 13b in the central portion ofthe bore 12g while, at the same time, providing sufficient clearance toaccommodate cocking of the unit as shown in Figure 5. The spring 15encircles the stem 13a and is bottomed at one end on the head 13b andthe other end on the washer 14. The stem projects beyond the washer 14into the aperture of the agitator 16 when the agitator rests on thenozzle 12.

The head 13b of the brush unit 13 has a reduced diariieter end portion13a fitting freely through the orifice 12 and providing a platform orend face 132 in the mouth of the orifice when the brush is fullyprojected as shown in Figure 3. Brush bristles are anchored in thecentral portion of the head part 13b and, as shown, an appreciablemarginal area of the platform 13c is exposed laterally beyond theanchored brush bristles. The bristles are adapted to fit freely throughthe orifice opening 12 hen the brush is fully projected by the spring 15the head 13b seats on the valve seat 12i of the nozzle to close the bore12g and stop the flow of the contents of the reservior or barrel to thebrush. However, end pressure on the projected brush bristles willdepressthe unit 13 to open the valve and accommodate flow of material from thebore 12g to the brush bristles. A modulated valve feed to the brushisthereby obtained.

The cap 17 has an end wall 17a with a recessedinner face receiving thesealing plug 18. A cylindrical side retained by the plug approximatelyin the longitudinal central portion of the cap chamber.

The pin 19 terminates flush with the end face of the skirt or side wall17b of the cap. The pin will, therefore, engage either the base of thebrush bristles or the platform 13e of the brush unit before the cap isin any way guided by the nozzle. In the event that the cap is initiallylongitudinally aligned with the nozzle as it is applied to the nozzle,the pin will penetrate the brush bristles and engage the base of thebristles to retract the brush unit. 13 back into the nozzle with thebrush bristles held in spaced relation ahead of the end wall or sealplug 18. In this manner, as the cap is applied to the nozzle, the brushunit 13 is automatically sheathed or retracted into the nozzle beforethe end wall of the cap can engage the brush bristles.

As illustrated in Figure 3, in the event that the cap 17 islongitudinally misaligned relative to the nozzle, the pin 19 will engagethe platform 13s and be guided into this engagement by the beveled ortapered orifice wall 12 before the cap even engages any part of thenozzle. Then, as the cap is pressed down onto the nozzle and is shiftedinto alignment by the nozzle walls to mate the cap and nozzle threads,the pin 19 will be shifted accordingly to laterally displace the brushunit 13. This lateral displacement is accommodated as illustrated inFigure 5 since the guide ears 13c are spaced inwardly from the orificewall 12f a considerable distance when the brush stem is coaxiallyaligned with the bore 12g. Therefore, cocking or tilting of the brushunit as shown in Figure 5, will not in any way damage the assembly. Whenthe cap 17 is threaded home on the nozzle, rotation of the pin with thecap may rotate the pin on the platform.

In the event that the pin is longer than the cap or in the event thatthe cap is applied to the nozzle at an angle as shown in Figure 4, thetapered mouth or guide wall 12 of the nozzle, will guide the pin 19'onto the platform 132 and when the cap is then guided by the nozzle intoan upright position, the brush unit will be retracted and cocked asshown in Figure 5. In the cap 17 and 17, the pins 19 and 1 9"lie on thelongitudinal axis of the cap. In the caps 17", however, the pin 19" isillustrated as being eccentrically mounted in the cap so that even whenthe cap is longitudinally aligned with the nozzle as illustrated inFigure 7, the pin will engage the platform 13c. When the cap is threadedonto the nozzle, the eccentric pin may tend to wobble the brush unit 13but this wobbling action is accommodated as illustrated in Figure 5. Thewasher 14, the brush stern 13a and head 13b, and the plug 18, arepreferably composed of plastic such as nylon, polyethylene, or the like.The pin 19 is preferably composed of steel.

From the above descriptions it should, therefore, be understood thatthis invention provides a short cap and pin assemblby for controlling aspring-loaded brush unit of a fountain brush without the necessity ofguiding the cap on the applicator nozzle. The orifice defining wall ofthe nozzle flares outwardly to provide a guide surface for the pin whichwill direct the pin against the brush unit. The orifice mouth is ofappreciably larger diameter than the diameter of the brush base so as toexpose a platform or end wall outside of the brush bristles which can beengaged by the pin in the event that the cap is not prealigned with theorifice before it is applied to the nozzle. It will be appreciated thatthis invention eliminates the heretofore required long nozzle andcooperating'guide wall or skirt on the cap for longitudinally aligningthe pin before the pin engages the brush.

It will be understood that variations and modifications may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel conceptsof this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1'. A fountain brush which comprises a container have ing at one end anexternal converging rounded nose'with a dispensing orifice in the endthereof, a brush unit within said container having a head with a valveportion thereon for closing said orifice, a stem secured to andextending longitudinally and rearwardly from the rear end of said head,the forward end of said head having a cylindrical end portion of reduceddiameter, a brush projecting from the forward end wall of said head andanchored in the central portion thereof leaving a marginal platformtherearound, means selectively projecting said brush through saidorifice, said orifice having a tapered interior wall forming a valveseat, said orifice having a tapered exterior wall and mouth portionforming a circular V-shaped sealing edge portion with the exteriorsurface of the rounded nose portion adjacent said orifice, the junctionof said internal wall and said external wall of said orifice forming arestricted throat, a skirted closure cap forthe container having an endwall for contacting said V-shaped surface and sealing the orifice, theskirt of said cap being adapted for fitting on the rear external wallportion of said rounded nose, a pin projecting into the interior of thecap from said end wall thereof and extending to the mouth of said capand adapted to engage the forward end of the cylindrical portion of saidhead, the cylindrical end of said head extending to the throat of saidorifice, said tapered exterior wall of said orifice providing a guidewall adjacent said orificefor directing said pin into such engagementwith the marginal platform on the end of said cylindrical portion ofsaid head and around saidHbrush before the end wall of the cap cancontact said brush unit, and said pin being effective to retract theapplicator unit into the container ahead of the end wall of the can.

2. A fountain brush type applicator comprising a fluid reservoir, anozzle, a fountain brush unit and a removable skirted cap, saidreservoir having an elongated side wall with one end closed and itsopposite end open, said dispensing nozzle having an inner end portion ofreduced diameter secured with the open end portion of said reservoir,said nozzle having an external converging rounded nose with an outlet atthe other end thereof, said outlet being of venturi configuration withinner and exterior walls and a restricted throat portion therebetween,the inner wall of said nozzle outlet providing a tapered internal valveseat, the exterior wall of said outlet providing an outwardly beveledmouth terminating in a V-shaped circular exterior sealing edge inconjunction with said rounded nose, said nozzle having a passageextending therethrough from end to end thereof, said fountain brush unitslidably mounted in said passageway in the nozzle and adapted to receivefluid from the reservoir therearound, a valve on said brush unit adaptedto engage the internal valve seat of the nozzle, a spring in the nozzlepassageway urging the valve toward the valve seat to close the outletend of the nozzle, said valve having a forward reduced cylindrical endportion substantially equal to the diameter of said throat of theventuri outlet and extending to and terminating at the throat thereof,the end of said reduced cylindrical end portion providing a marginalplatform thereon and around said brush supported thereby, said endportion of the valve to project the brush beyond the end of the nozzle,said fountain brush unit fitting freely in said passageway in saidnozzle and adapted to be tilted in the nozzle passageway withoutdamaging the brush, the removable skirted cap for said nozzle having acentrally depending thin internal pin extending substantially to themouth of the cap, said outwardly beveled mouth of the nozzle beingeffective to guide said pin into engagement with said marginal platformof the valve for opening the valve and for retracting the brush into thenozzle prior to application of said cap upon said nozzle and in advanceof the end wall of the cap, said brush unit being tiltable in the nozzlepassageway to accommodate misalignment by the pin, and said cap having asealing plug arranged in its interior end wall for overlying and seatingon the substantially V-shaped circular exterior'edge-portion surroundingthe nozzle to seal the nozzle outlet.

3. A fountain brush and orifice guided brush retractor and closure capwhich comprises a container having a nozzle projecting from one endthereof defining an internal passageway with a converging valve seatportion and a discharge orifice having an outwardly flared dischargemouth portion at the convergent end of said seat portion, the junctionof saidvalve seat portion and said discharge mouth portion providing arestricted throat for said orifice, a stemmed brush unit loosely mountedin said passageway, a head on the stem providing a valve coacting withsaid valve seat, said head having a forward cylindrical end portion ofslightly smallerdiameter than the diameter of the throat of saidorifice, said end portion extending to and terminating flush with saidthroat, brush bristles projecting from the central portion of the endsurface of said reduced cylindrical end portion of said head leaving amarginal platform upon the end thereof, a washer in said nozzle slidablyguiding the brush unit, guide lugs on said head adapted to engage thepassageway of the nozzle when said head is forced into contact with oneside of the passageway as said brush unit is tilted insaid passageway, aspring compressed between said washer and said head for urging the brushthrough the nozzle to seat the valve against the valve seat, a closurecap having a threaded skirt portion engageable with the exterior sidewall of said nozzle and an end wall portion for closing the orifice, athin elongatedpin extending in said cap from said end wall to at leastflush relation with the mouth of the cap, said platform of said reducedcylindrical end portion of said head providing an end wall portionsurrounding the brush to be engaged by said pin, said flared mouth ofthe orifice guiding said pin against said platform portion to cause thepin to retract the brush unit into the nozzle in advance of the end wallof the cap, longitudinal misalignment of the pin and brush unit beingaccommodated by tilting of the unit in the passageway, and said flaredmouth portion forming a circular peripheral sealing edge with theexterior surface of said nozzle for contacting the inner wall of saidcap.

4. A fountain brush and brush retractor closure cap assembly whichcomprises an elongated cylindrical container having a closed end and anopen mouth, a nozzle member having one end press fitted into said openmouth of the container, the opposite end of said nozzle having acylindrical portion with converging rounded nose, said nozzle havinglongitudinal passageway therethrough with a converging end portionproviding an internal valve seat and an outwardly beveled dischargeoutlet mouth at the convergent end of the valve seat providing a V-shape peripheral cap sealing edge portion with the exterior surface ofsaid nose, said nozzle adjacent said nose having reduced diameter shortcylindrical portion with screw threads thereon, a brush and valve unitslidably mounted in the passageway of said nozzle, a washer press fittedin the nozzle providing a guiding orifice at the inner end of thenozzle, said unit having a stern freely slidable in said washer, a headon said stem for contacting with said valve seat, lugs on said head forguiding the stem longitudinally in the passageway of the nozzle and forspacing said head from the sidewall of said nozzle, said head having aforward cylindrical end portion of reduced diameter, the area about saidbrush bristles secured in the end of said head to provide a platformsurrounding the brush bristles, the diameter of said head reduced endportion being slightly smaller than the diameter of said outlet mouth atthe convergent end of said valve seat allowing said reduced portion toextend to and terminate at the restricted area of said outlet mouth, askirted closure cap having an end wall and sealing plug embodiedtherewith for sealing the out let mouth, the depending skirt of said caphaving an internal thread for mating with the thread on the nozzle,

7 a' pin carried by said end wall and projecting in said cap into atleast flush relationship with the end of the skirt, said pin adapted toengage said platform on the end of said head to retract the brush unitinto the nozzle passageway for opening the valve and sheathing thebrush, and said outlet mouth guiding said pin into engagement with saidplatform in the event of misalignment of the cap and nozzle and saidperipheral edge seal of said nozzle forming a circular line sealingengagement element with said sealing plug in said cap.

5. A fountain brush and brush retracting closure cap assembly whichcomprises a container having a rounded nose dispensing nozzle with aventuri type orifice therein, a spring-propelled brush and valve unitslidably mounted in a passageway within said nozzle, the brush portionof said unit adapted to project freely through the orifice of saidnozzle, the venturi type orifice having a tapered inner wall, anoutwardly beveled outer wall and a restricted throat therebetween, saidoutwardly beveled outer wall forming a peripheral edge sealing surfacewith the outer surface of said rounded nose of said nozzle, the valveportion of said unit adapted to coact with the inner wall of said.nozzleorifice for closing the nozzle orifice, the forward end of said valvehaving a cylindrical portion of reduced diameter, said brush portion ofthe unit assembledin the central portion of the end surface of saidcylindrical end portion, the marginal area about said brush on said endof said cylindrical end portion forming a marginal platform, a closurecap having a skirt embracing 'said nozzle and an end wall with a sealingplugembodied therewith for overlying said peripheral sealing edgeportion of said nose of said nozzle to, seal the container, a pinextending longitudinally in the cap in dis-l placed relationship fromthe longitudinal axis of the cap, said pin adapted to engage saidplatform on the end. of said valve member adjacent said brush portion toretract the brush bristles into the nozzle passageway in advance of theend wall of the cap, said cylindrical end of said valve member beingslightly smaller than the diameter of the passageway in said nozzle andextending to and termi nating at said restricted throat of the orifice,and said brush and valve unit being tiltable in said nozzle passagewayto accommodate wobbling of the unit upon rotation of the displaced pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS min"

